C15 Mission Completed

"Humph! Taking my life won't be so easy!" The sorcerer snorted coldly as Xia Shou Li charged at him, swiftly removing his skull mask.

"Sha'rah! Aooo!" The mask, now in place of the bone staff, sparked with an imminent ghostly fire.

"Ah!" A cry of pain echoed as the sorcerer was struck in the shoulder by an arrow. Clutching at the wound, he dropped the mask, which rolled away. It was Chu Hen who had seized the moment to deal a heavy blow.

"Ah! Ah!" The sorcerer, driven to madness, bellowed, "All of you shall die!" Gritting his teeth against the searing pain, he yanked the arrowhead from his flesh.

"Blood Shadow Technique!"

"Pfft!" A jet of blood erupted, forming a sinister red fog. The air thickened, the world seemed to invert, and an unseen force weighed on Chu Hen's chest like a mountain, rendering him immobile.

The local militia couldn't endure such dark magic; their ribcages collapsed, piercing their hearts.

Xia Shou Li, though not fallen, halted in his attack, dropping his mace and laughing maniacally as if under a spell.

The sorcerer's dark spell had slain dozens of villagers and grievously wounded two martial arts masters. Yet this desperate counterattack appeared to have drained his malevolent energy.

Nonetheless, the sorcerer effortlessly extracted a glistening green snake from his chest and flung it at Xia Shou Li's darkened face. The venomous serpent struck, and the stalwart man let out a few cries before collapsing dead.

Insect Gu?

The oppressive force immobilized him, while the surrounding flames dwindled and the distant sound of Barbarian Soldiers' iron hooves grew closer.

"Poor southerner, tremble in fear," the Shaman sneered as he rose, retrieving the snake and flashing a sinister grin.

"Ah!" Chu Hen screamed, summoning all his strength to struggle, but suddenly tasted sweetness in his throat and spat out a gush of blood. A strange, refreshing fragrance filled the air, invigorating those who inhaled it.

The Shaman paused, a thrill of excitement flashing across his face as if beholding a rare delicacy, and he eagerly lunged at Chu Hen.

The Longevity Fruit? Chu Hen's mind raced back to the eerie circumstances surrounding Chen Sheng's death, and a sense of foreboding washed over him. He was convinced that the witch intended to devour him whole. Desperately, he clamped his hand over his mouth to stem the flow of blood.

"Huh?" To his surprise, Chu Hen found that he could move again, the oppressive force had vanished, and most wondrous of all, a warm current had emerged in his dantian, swiftly coursing through his limbs and invigorating his entire body.

Then, he felt his tongue undulate and a sweet scent filled his nostrils.

"True Essence Realm!" Chu Hen realized he had achieved a breakthrough.

The intense pressure, coupled with the exotic fragrance, had pushed his body past its limits, elevating his state of being.

It was an incredible stroke of luck. Clad in iron armor and at a distance from the shaman, Chu Hen had managed to endure the Blood Shadow Technique at the fourth level of the mortal realm, emerging with even less damage than Xia Shouli.

"Cackle!"

In the blink of an eye, the sorcerer approached with a shriek, greed etched across her face. Chu Hen feigned utter despair as the witch extended her clawed hand, glowing green, towards him.

"Southerner... I will flay your skin and drain your blood..."

"Drink your own, hag!" Chu Hen sneered, flicking his wrist and delivering a swift kick to the witch's chest. In one fluid motion, he drew his steel blade and slashed twice with lightning speed.

"Impossible!"

The sorcerer, caught off guard, hadn't anticipated that the southerner, even after being struck by the Blood Shadow Technique, could still move, and with more ferocity than before. She hastily retreated but only managed to evade the first strike, not the second.

"Swish!" The bloodied phoenix feather spun through the air, landing alongside the sorcerer's severed head.

"Sorcerer slain. Reward: five hundred Contribution Points!"

Chu Hen's heart leapt with joy. As he moved to desecrate the body, he noticed a green, luminescent liquid oozing from the witch's neck. Upon contact with the air, it transformed into a green staff, with starlight swirling within, seemingly an artifact of heritage.

"Clatter! Clatter! Clatter!" The distant barbarian soldiers had taken notice and were rapidly approaching. Left with no alternative, Chu Hen melted into the night's embrace.

The staff, bone staff, and mask were all valuable finds, yet the priority remained to execute the plan to perfection. Now, only one final step remained. He couldn't afford to risk detection by the Barbarian Soldiers for the sake of flogging a corpse.

The route they had mapped out earlier proved its worth. With a few twists and turns, Chu Hen reached a small, desolate patch of land behind the Xia Family's ancestral home.

Guided by the moonlight, Chu Hen approached the seemingly forsaken well and leaped down.

"Young Master!"

Lianxiang's familiar voice echoed, and her delicate face emerged from the tunnel.

"Mmm!" Chu Hen secured the stone slab he had prepared over the tunnel entrance and filled the cracks with mud. After a meticulous inspection to ensure no light could seep through, he finally exhaled a sigh of relief.

"Did it work?" In the cramped space, Lianxiang clung tightly to Chu Hen's chest, her unique, youthful scent enveloping him.

Her chest rose and fell, her heartbeat thundered, and her breaths came in soft gasps. Though the beautiful girl was in his arms, Chu Hen's mind was elsewhere.

"Mmm, it's done!"

"The Xia Family's father and son would never have imagined their escape tunnel would be commandeered by others," Chu Hen mused, all the while attentively listening for any sounds from outside.

"In that case, I shall stay here with you, Young Master, until the task is complete," Lianxiang whispered, snuggling even closer to him.

"... Retreat... Help... Water... The Chief is dead..." The fragmented, faint voices signaled that the barbarians had retreated following the Shaman's death, and the villagers were now fending for themselves.

With the Xia father and son gone, Isynlenor Village had lost its pillars, and at this moment, the villagers would hardly spare a thought for a deserted well. The tunnel was now secure.

As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Chu Hen gazed at the girl beside him, replaying the events of the past few days that had unfolded in secrecy.

Chu Hen had long grasped the essence of the survival mission, yet the choice of action loomed large.

Han Meng's betrayal was one option, but it would surely lead to a grim end.

Escaping with the village chief was another, but that tunnel led to the hills, well beyond half a mile from the village.

The only option was to take cover and wait for the mission to be completed.

Over the past few days, Lianxiang and I weren't playing the part of lovers; instead, we were laying down a smokescreen to confuse onlookers while uncovering Xia Ren's schemes and secrets.

Based on the intelligence Lianxiang had gathered, the Xia family father and son had prepared for two scenarios. They used me and others as human shields; if the village fell, they planned to escape through a tunnel. If the village held, they intended to manipulate public opinion and find an excuse to kill the outsiders.

One's heart may yearn for the bright moon, but alas, the moonlight falls on the ditch.

I don't consider myself cruel, but I absolutely refuse to let anyone harm me in secret.

Xia Ren was struck by my unexpected counter, and Xia Shouli was drawn out by the sorcerer. The fire that engulfed the village was also a part of my meticulous plan.

By removing these two significant threats and using fire to drive away the barbarian soldiers, I essentially saved the villagers of Isynlenor. Otherwise, the naked corpses beneath the high walls would have been their grim fate.

An unforeseen gain was that the sorcerer met his end at my hands by a twist of fate. It's just a pity about that staff...

The turmoil in Isynlenor persisted, yet the noise was diminishing. Chu Hen steadied his mind, refusing to let his thoughts wander.

"Young Master, please have some water!"

Lianxiang's gentle voice reached me, "The tunnel is rudimentary, and I regret I cannot brew tea for you here. Once we're out, I'll prepare it properly!"

Chu Hen, appreciating her kindness, took the cup and drank deeply, then responded, "We still have a ways to go. Miss Lianxiang, you should also conserve your strength!"

We had made sure to pack essentials like food and water. However, perhaps due to my recent martial arts breakthrough, I wasn't feeling particularly hungry or thirsty. Still, it was best to be frugal.

Closing my eyes, I concentrated on sensing the changes within my body.

The warm current from my dantian was now flowing through me, providing a comforting warmth.

"Who would have thought that my martial arts prowess would advance in such a situation? Truly, fortune often follows disaster." The Xia family had intended to use me as a scapegoat, unaware that fate had turned the tables. Not only did their plan draw the witch's attention, but it also shielded me from some of her magical assaults.

Chu Hen had reacted swiftly in the face of danger, narrowly escaping death's grasp.

"Thank goodness! It's all behind me now, and my level has increased!" Chu Hen relished the flow of True Essence coursing through his limbs and felt a surge of unprecedented power awakening within him.

The martial arts realm is divided into nine levels: Spirit Forging, Flesh Forging, Core Enhancement, Physique Augmentation, True Essence, Channel Widening, Chakra Activation, Gathered Atop, and Returning to the Source.

Martial artists begin by cultivating their Qi, then strengthening their flesh. Once the Qi flows freely and the body is strong, inner breath is generated. This inner breath circulates, refining the internal organs and transforming the practitioner into a formidable expert.

Chu Hen had already reached the pinnacle of Physique Augmentation, lacking only persistence and willpower. This ordeal had forged both his mind and willpower to an extraordinary degree.

In a situation that was on the brink of collapse, this tempering became a disguised blessing.

After adapting to life in the darkness, Chu Hen would sleep when tired and eat when hungry in the underground tunnels, occasionally conversing with Lianxiang. Aside from that, he was wholly devoted to his cultivation.

Once the True Essence Realm was breached, the next step was to gradually extend the cultivated True Essence throughout the body's meridians, a process known as Channel Widening. When the meridians are sufficiently expanded, reaching the heart palace and breaking through this barrier, one can achieve Gathered Atop and Returning to the Source.

At this stage, the martial artist's cultivation is complete. The Body of Returning to the Source is a significant milestone among martial cultivators, naturally prolonging life.

However, it does not grant immortality.

Chu Hen pondered to himself that if martial arts could only prolong life, perhaps he should consider dual cultivation with his sister's help. In time, he could also explore the functions of the King of the Gods Hall. Not just dual cultivation, but even more complex practices would surely be within reach.

While Chu Hen was lost in his daydreams about the future, Lianxiang's voice, tender and tinged with coyness, interrupted his thoughts.

"Young Master..." Her voice, filled with softness and a hint of flirtation, made Chu Hen's resolve melt away. How could he focus on cultivating now?

"Hmm?"

Chu Hen felt his spirit reconnect with the earth as he turned around, only to find Lianxiang embracing him with her soft, jade-like warmth. The dimly lit tunnel suddenly seemed to brim with springtime allure and seductive charm.

"Young Master, you have saved me time and again. I am willing to offer myself to you. If you find me unworthy, I am ready to serve you in any way you desire!"

Lianxiang's seductive words and geisha talents were on full display, her ample bosom pressing close to his chest through her undergarment.

Having just skirted death's door, Chu Hen was far from a paragon of virtue. Confined in the cramped tunnel, his desires were ignited. He pressed his lips to Lianxiang's, their saliva mingling, while his hands eagerly explored beneath her undergarment.

In the throes of mutual desire, Lianxiang's breaths grew heavy. She expertly stoked the flames of his passion, her words a wild torrent of seduction, a stark contrast to her usual demure demeanor.

As Chu Hen was about to tear away Lianxiang's final garment and consummate their encounter, a voice of ancient authority suddenly echoed in his mind: "Main mission accomplished. Tester, return!"

Dizziness overwhelmed him, and the tunnel seemed to swirl into a vast vortex, at the center of which he lost consciousness.

With a thud, he felt a slight pain in his rear end as brightness flooded his vision.

Chu Hen squinted, adjusting to the light, before slowly opening his eyes.

"Lianxiang?"

Silence met his call.

"What is this?" He confirmed he was no longer in the tunnel, nor was he in Draseon. He continued to take in his surroundings.

Immortal towers and pavilions enveloped him, with a jade palace soaring into the clouds. Exotic flowers and plants adorned the palace, creating a scene akin to a heavenly realm.

"Congratulations to tester #0911, Chu Hen, for successfully completing the main mission!"

"Contribution value calculation complete!"